ruin and actual condition of the city, the resources of Cortes, and many other points. He says that Temistitan was built upon a rock standing in the midst of the salt lake; just as is related of the most illustrious city of Venice, built upon a hill on the coast of the Adriatic. Temistitan served as a refuge against the attacks of enemies, and its name is derived from three different words: tem refers to anything that appears to be of a divine origin, nucil is a fruit, and titan is anything standing in the water; hence the derivation of Temistitan, namely, "A divine fruit growing in the water." The first people who landed upon that reef found there a tree laden with exquisite and nourishing fruits, somewhat larger than our apples, which supplied them with food in their time of need. In sign of gratitude their standard displays a representation of this tree, which resembles a mulberry, although its leaves are much greener.

The Tascaltecans bear upon their standards two clasped hands, kneading a loaf; for they boast that their fields produce more cereals than those of their neighbours, and this is even the origin of their name; for Tascal in their language signifies a loaf of bread, and teca means a mistress. Tascalteca therefore means "Mistress of bread." The inhabitants of that mountain called by our people Vulcan-I mean the one that smokes have the same usage, and upon their standards is represented a smoking mountain, which they call Popocatepech, because Popoca means smoke, and tepech, a mountain. On the eastern side, and separated from Popocatepech by a short distance, rises another mountain covered the entire year with snow Other mountains are also snow-covered because of their height. Let us mention the mountain Cachutepech,

The nopal, or Mexican fig, called in Spanish tuna. Needless to add that Peter Martyr's description is entirely mistaken and that the variety of cactus producing this fruit bears not the slightest resemblance to a mulberry tree.

where rabbits flourish, for cachu means rabbit and Cachutepech, "The rabbit mountain." A temple of the gods is called Teucale, from Teu, god, and cale, meaning house or habitation. In this wise the natives designate everything by what it represents; we will later return more carefully to this subject.

Ribera reports that the city has been ruined for the most part by fire and sword, and that only a small number of the principal inhabitants survive. As the fury of the war did not spare a single town or village in the neighbourhood, Cortes ordered the ruins to be reconstructed; especially the royal palaces and the residence of Muteczuma, which was so vast that, according to common report, no one who entered could find his way about without a guide, unless he had been born and brought up there. It resembles the intricacies of the fabulous labyrinth of Minos. Cortes has insisted that this palace should first of all be repaired.

As for the pleasure houses, where, as we have said, different species of quadrupeds and wild beasts and birds were kept, they stood inside the town and amidst the waters, and not on the mainland as some persons have stated. So it was with the groves and the orchards. Ribera has described the howls of the lions, tigers, bears, and wolves while they were burning in the houses, and the deplorable catastrophe which overtook the natives. Some day the pleasure houses will be rebuilt. They were constructed of stone from the foundations, finished with creneaux, like a fortress.

The people's dwelling houses were also built of stone, but only halfway up, because of the inundations and the streams of water flowing into the lake. The rest of the house, above this solid foundation, was built of baked or sundried brick, mixed with beams; they usually had but one story. The dampness of the soil caused the people to live but little on the ground floor. The roofs were not of tiles, but made of a sort of bituminous earth, which

VOL. II-13

more easily absorbs the rays of the sun, but which, it is supposed, must wear out more quickly.

The heavy beams and pieces of timber used in constructing their houses are treated as follows: The slopes of the mountains are covered with lemon-trees. It is known that when the Romans renounced frugality to give themselves up to debauchery and pleasure, they used citron wood for their tables and beds, because this wood is always in fermentation, and free from worms and rot; moreover, its planks are of various colours. Pines were also found mixed with lemon-trees in the forests of those regions. By means of their copper hatchets and well sharpened axes, the natives cut down the trees, hewing them smoothly and cleaning away the chips, to facilitate their transport.

There is no lack of plants from which they make string, cords, and cables, as though from hemp. Boring a hole through one side of the beam, they pass a cable to which slaves are harnessed, as though they were oxen under the yoke. Instead of wheels, they place rounded tree-trunks on the road, whether going up or down hill. The carpenters oversee the work, but slaves do the heaviest part of it. All materials and whatever is required in daily life is carried in the same way, for they have neither oxen nor asses nor any animal as beasts of burden. Incredible stories are told of these pieces of wood; I would not venture to repeat them had not eye-witnesses, called before us in full council, testified that they had verified them. Such witnesses are numerous. One of these beams found at Tezcuco is one hundred and twenty feet long, and as thick round as a fat ox. It sustains almost the entire building. We are assured that this has been seen, and nobody doubts it. Does not this example furnish a high idea of their industry?

The cocoa coinage is always used, and it seems useless to make any change. For the defence of this immense

empire, Cortes disposes of a force consisting of forty cannon, two hundred horsemen, and thirteen hundred foot-soldiers, two hundred and fifty of the latter being engaged in manoeuvring the thirteen brigantines. These boats ply the lake, night and day, under the direction of a specially appointed lieutenant. The other soldiers are engaged in exploring the countries yet unknown. They have visited the mountains separating the plain of Temistitan from the countries to the south; the extent of which from east to west is asserted by those who have visited them to be very great, and their length five hundred leagues. These countries are highly productive of foodstuffs, are well wooded, and have remarkable cities.

Juan Ribera brings pieces of gold in various shapes, such as lentils or peas, found in the several rivers which water the plain of Temistitan, as well as pearls from the south coast. He represents them as spoils of war taken from Muteczuma or from his voluptuous chieftains, and from other enemies. Ribera was with me when the reverend protonotary Caracciolo, legate of Your Holiness, and the Venetian ambassador, Gaspar Contarini and Tomaso Maino, nephew of the illustrious Jason Maino, envoy of the Duke of Milan,' came to see me, desiring to learn and behold something new. They admired the quantity and the natural purity of the gold (for it is so pure that it might be coined into ducats without the least alloy), less than the number and shapes of the receptacles, in which the different tribes had sent their tribute. That these vessels are used to hold this gold is proven by the fact that each vase or basket has attached to it the name of the tributary country. Each of these receptacles weighs eight, nine, or ten

'Marino Caracciolo was created Cardinal by Paul III., and died while holding the governorship of Milan. Jasone Maino was a celebrated jurisconsult, author of voluminous works which were collected and published in nine volumes at Turin, 1576.

drachmas of gold. What has been shown us is the best proof of the amount each of the companions of Cortes received as his share; and indeed Ribera is the sole possessor of all he has exhibited to us.

The treasure destined for the Emperor is on board the vessel which has not yet arrived; but it is said that it amounts to 32,000 ducats of smelted gold in the form of bars. Were all the rings, jewels, shields, helmets, and other ornaments now smelted, the total would amount to 150,000 ducats. The report has spread, I know not how, that French pirates are on the watch for these ships'; may they come safely in!

Let us describe Ribera's share, which is but a feeble forecast of what will come later. He has shown us pearls as pure as those human luxury calls oriental pearls; many of them are larger than a large nut, but they are not translucent, for they are taken from the shells after the latter have been boiled. Nevertheless we have observed some that are translucent. This, however, is as nothing. The necklaces and rings are curious to see, for there is not a quadruped, bird, or a fish the native artists have seen, that they do not reproduce faithfully to nature. The exactitude of the reproduction commands our admiration. What shall be said of the little vases, earrings, chains, bracelets, all made of gold, of which the workmanship is superior to the material; and likewise of the crests, plumes, shields and helmets of open metal work, so delicately wrought they deceive the eye? We have been particularly delighted with two mirrors of exceptional beauty; the first was bordered with a circle of gold one palm in circumference, and set in green wood. The other was similar. Ribera states that there is stone

The French pirates were successful in their attack on the Spanish ships: Quiñones de Leon was killed, Alonso d'Avila was captured and carried a prisoner to La Rochelle, while the entire treasure fell into the hands of the corsair, Jean Florin.